BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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AHB is a nonprofit private school governed by a volunteer board of directors. Our Board is comprised of 7 parents elected by the community to two-year terms, 2 teacher representatives, and one appointed member. The Board articulates goals for the school in alignment with its mission and bylaws, which are enacted by the community. The board seeks community input via surveys and forums and with the help of parent and teacher liaisons.

BOARD DETAILS

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AHB Community School board member presenting with the head of school.

Voting Members

BOARD PRESIDENT

Cara H.

AHB parent since 2017

“AHB nurtures the creative spirit, encourages a real love of learning, while also being academically rigorous.”

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Cara is the mom of two daughters, a middle schooler and 2nd grader (Beta) who both call AHB home. She is a native Texan who traveled/lived around the world and found her way back home. Her husband came across AHB while they were researching schools and trying to find a place that would nurture the creative spirit, encourage a real love of learning, while also being academically rigorous. They found all of that and a real sense of community at AHB.

Cara holds a BA in International Studies and French from Texas A&M and a Master’s in Public Administration with an emphasis in Nonprofit Management from the University of Nebraska. She has founded and served on several boards of non profits, and really enjoys helping organizations grow. In a former life she was a recruiter who liked to help people too much, so she became a career coach.

BOARD VICE PRESIDENT

Brent G.

AHB Parent since 2021

“The academic rigor packed into shorter days and four day weeks is exactly what my busy family needs.”

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Brent is the dad of three AHB students … Cerie (Delta), Xavier (Gamma) and Pao (Beta). Brent and family have attended AHB for 3 years. After homeschooling, Brent and his wife Natasya decided the small, warm AHB environment was perfect for their family. The academic rigor packed into shorter days and four day weeks was exactly what his busy family needed. Brent sees his service on the board and other volunteering as a way to protect, maintain and improve AHB for his and other families.

Brent is a photographer and is the exclusive mother baby photographer for the five Ascension Seton hospitals in Austin. Outside of the hospital he focuses on photographing active and growing families.

Brent has an ALM in Business Economics from Harvard. He spent 20+ as a consultant focused on business and communication strategy, and operations within the financial services and tech industries. He is much happier as a photographer.

BOARD SECRETARY

Jessica P.

AHB parent since 2021

“AHB magically melds the benefits of home and classroom education.”

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The pandemic flipped everything Jessica thought she knew about education and lifestyle on its head. After experiencing the joys and challenges of homeschooling a kindergartener and preschooler, she found the sweet spot in AHB that magically melds the benefits of home and classroom education.

Her family moved to Austin in 2016 after spending 12 years in the Northeast. Early in her career, Jessica served on the legislative policy teams of several Members of Congress in Washington, D.C. After leaving Capitol Hill, she directed the fundraising team for a nonprofit public policy think tank in New York City that supported the work of scholars researching ways to help cities flourish, and inspire economic growth and opportunity for more people.

Jessica has a B.S. in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Florida. Growing up in Florida, she met her husband, Dean, when she was 3 years old.

BOARD TREASURER

Dallas D.

AHB Parent since 2014

“I love being part of a community that values emotional education as highly as it does academic achievement.”

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Dallas Dickinson is the father of Fletcher (AHB Alumn, now LASA) and Louisa (Middle School). He is deeply committed to AHB’s unique brand of progressive education and loves being part of a community that values emotional education as highly as it does academic achievement. He and his family value project-based learning, collaboration, flexibility, and autonomy as core principles for students and adults alike to master.

Dallas holds an AB from Princeton University, where he studied English and Theater/Dance. In his free time, he is a video game executive, serving as General Manager of the Tomb Raider franchise for Crystal Dynamics.

Leah C.

AHB parent since 2021

“AHB teaches children to collaboratively solve problems and discover new ideas with a blend of imagination, emotional intelligence, and intellectual rigor that is infinitely useful in life.“

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Leah brings her 25 years of experience in the performing arts, her expertise in education, and her love of collaboration to the AHB community. A native Texan, she returned to the state after 20 years in the New York City area. Her first priority upon arriving in Austin was to find a school whose educational model promoted genuine learning and developed creative, artful problem-solving; intellectual rigor; and emotional intelligence. AHB was—and continues to be—that place for her two children!

Leah is an Associate Professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance at The University of Texas at Austin. She holds a BA in Philosophy from Texas Christian University and an MFA in Dance from Hollins University.

Steve S.

AHB parent 2021-24

“AHB’s teachers/administrators, teaching philosophy, and sense of community, along with the supportive, kind and collaborative nature of his classmates, gave my child an appreciation for school that he had never experienced previously.”

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Steve Sprinkle is the father of a recent AHB alum (Jakob) who attended AHB for middle school. He has a deep appreciation for AHB and the role the school played in changing Jakob’s attitude towards education. While Jakob may never “love” school, AHB’s teachers/administrators, teaching philosophy, and sense of community, along with the supportive, kind and collaborative nature of his classmates, gave Jakob an appreciation for school that he had never experienced previously. Steve remains grateful to AHB for providing that environment and experience for his son. He continues to serve on the AHB Board (beyond Jakob’s attendance at ABH) to try to play some small part in helping AHB carry on its mission in order to create that kind of impact on other kids.

Steve fell in love with Austin while attending law school at the University of Texas in the early 90’s and has made Austin his home ever since. When he’s not working as a patent attorney or hanging out with his son, Steve spends way too much time riding his ever-growing collection of bikes.

Liz J.

AHB parent since 2022

“We truly appreciate the creative learning environment and genuine sense of worth instilled in every student at AHB.”

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Liz Jakesch is the mother to Beo (Beta Class) and Pippin (Delta Class). Formerly from another private school in Austin, Liz was drawn to AHB’s focus on creative education strategies and social-emotional learning. She values AHB’s mixed-age classrooms and nurturing atmosphere, which has also brought immense joy to her children.

Liz holds several undergraduate and Master‘s degrees, and currently practices as a pediatric nurse practitioner specializing in neurology. Liz provides compassionate part-time care to her young patients and their families. She also manages several Airbnb properties in Austin, showcasing her entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to hospitality.

In their leisure time, Liz and her family recharge by spending time at their ‘ranch,’ surrounded by nature and their many animals.

Fabiana R.

AHB parent since 2023

“AHB has had a powerful impact on my child, and I’m inspired by the way the community comes together to thoughtfully shape the school’s future.”

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Jessica joined the AHB community in 2023 as a parent. She grew up in Houston and studied at Rice University, where she discovered a passion for storytelling through photojournalism and documentary filmmaking. Her early career blended arts advocacy and nonprofit work, including fundraising and community-building projects with the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. Jessica later worked in corporate strategy and strategic communications for a large tech company and now freelances with organizations across tech, education, and energy.

She brings experience in vision-setting, communications, and relationship-building to the board, along with a deep commitment to AHB’s mission and community as the school enters its next chapter.

AHB Community School 2nd grade teacher, Kelly Larson

TEACHER REPRESENTATIVE

Ms. Kelly

AHB faculty since 2010

“Teachers at AHB aren’t just here to teach, but are in a continuous process of learning too. Not only are we instilling a love of learning, but our goal is to inspire and be inspired.”

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So much to learn… so much to explore… so many exciting challenges and opportunities. Kelly has felt so lucky to be able to share her curiosity of the world around her with students throughout her teaching career. Kelly received her Master’s in Education from the University of New Hampshire. She has taught in the primary grades in Barrington NH, Albuquerque NM, Salt Lake City UT, Los Alamos NM and finally here in Austin TX as she and her husband raised two boys and her husband pursued a career as a geologist.

Everywhere Kelly has taught, whether public or private schools, small or large communities, she has enjoyed taking children on a path of wonder and excitement about the world we live in. She has investigated forests and fields of milkweed in New Hampshire, and built a garden from scorched earth in Albuquerque. In Los Alamos she created a curriculum for the district to get every child in the school outside at least once a month to marvel at the amazing aspects of nature.

As the Japanese proverb states- to teach is to learn, and there is nothing more amazing than exploring right alongside children. Kelly looks forward to learning and creating memories alongside your children.

TEACHER REPRESENTATIVE

Ms. Kandyce

AHB faculty since 2019

“I’m thankful to be part of a community where my voice is heard.”

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Kandyce is overjoyed to be part of the AHB community. She graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1992 and has spent 21 years teaching everything from pre-K to 7th grade Pre AP English. After 18 years in Texas public schools, she grew tired of watching children being reduced to data. She took a leap of faith and resigned, trusting that a more authentic learning environment awaited her. She knew when she met the faculty at AHB she had found her tribe.

Being the youngest in a family of seven kids, Kandyce learned early on the importance of working together, flexibility, and resilience. She developed a high tolerance for chaos and a sense of wonder about the world. These attributes, she believes, are a great recipe for classroom learning.

Kandyce has raised four children and lives in the world of empty nesters. She delights in her grandson, Leo, and enjoys painting, sewing, reading, and occasionally binge-watching TV. She is not afraid to get her hands dirty and intends to learn taxidermy. And she once got to join humorist Amy Sedaris on stage to make a pinto bean eye burrito.

Kandyce models curiosity and an enthusiasm for learning to her students—always encouraging them to ask, “What if?” and “Why?” She strives to help them connect their classroom studies to the bigger world. She nurtures an environment of risk taking, independence, and the sheer joy of learning new things. AHB is the perfect place for her!

Non-Voting Members

AHB Community School Head of School, Shari Vars

EX OFFICIO

Ms. Shari

Head of School
AHB parent since 2014

“I love how the nurturing environment at AHB supports creativity and curiosity alongside academic rigor.”

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Shari first came to AHB as a parent in 2014. Shortly after enrolling her two children, she found herself called back to the classroom (after years as a stay-at-home parent) and spent nearly 3 years teaching Humanities in Delta and Gamma. She loved teaching (and learning!) at AHB, where the nurturing environment supported creativity and curiosity alongside academic rigor. She later left to start a small business, and though much was learned in this detour, she ultimately she found herself missing the spark that comes from working with young people. When the opportunity arose to rejoin the AHB team, Shari jumped at the chance to help serve and lead the community for which she already held such deep appreciation and respect.

Originally from Minnesota, Shari earned her BA in English and Secondary Education from Vanderbilt’s Peabody School of Education in Nashville, Tennessee. She met her husband there and spent the next several years teaching high school English and special education while following his work path around the country. After settling in Austin in 2001, Shari worked as a writer and editor for an educational publishing company and took on the role of Assistant Director when the company started its own elementary micro-school, KAMICO Academy. There, Shari enjoyed the “big-picture” problem-solving involved as she worked to coordinate and best serve the needs of students, parents, and teachers. She looks forward to similar challenges as part of AHB’s administrative team!

When not at school, Shari aims to find pleasure in keeping family life afloat: walking the dog, gardening, playing family games, and sneaking the occasional date night (or Netflix binge) amongst chauffeuring busy kids.

AHB Community School Associate Director, Alexa Corbett

EX OFFICIO

Ms. Alexa

Associate Director
AHB parent since 2013

“I find great value in collaborative learning and the work/life balance that AHB offers my family.”

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Alexa has an undergraduate degree in German from the University of Texas and a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Maryland. She taught for five years in inner-city Baltimore, and then moved to North Carolina, where she worked with curriculum implementation and licensing for the NC Real Estate Commission. After many years at home with kids, she is excited to be back in her wheelhouse – working in education and organizational development.

Alexa’s family found AHB in 2013 when her oldest son started Kindergarten. All five of her children have benefitted from AHB’s unique approach to education. Alexa finds great value in collaborative learning and the work/life balance that AHB offers her family. She served as President of AHB’s Board of Directors for almost three years before accepting the role of Associate Director. She enjoys sharing AHB’s magic with families who are searching for an educational community.

Outside of school, Alexa has a passion for renovating old houses and exploring the world with her family. She is on a mission to visit all 50 states and every U.S. National Park. At home she enjoys yoga, growing vegetables and training her cat, Henry.

ADVISORY POSITION

Lindsey P.

Former AHB Teacher

“I was looking for a place to teach that allowed teacher autonomy and whose values aligned with my own.”

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Lindsey found AHB when she was looking for a place to teach that allowed teacher autonomy and whose values aligned with her own. As a teacher, she taught the Gamma class through a social-justice lens and promoted critical thinking, creativity, and authentic learning experiences for her students. She deeply appreciates the opportunity to serve the amazing AHB community through board membership.

Lindsey holds a B.S. in Applied Learning and Development from The University of Texas at Austin. Currently, Lindsey is a REALTOR with Austin Portfolio Real Estate, continuing to help others through buying and selling homes. When she isn’t working in real estate, she can be found at the Alamo Drafthouse or loving on her 90-pound German Shepherd, Watson.

HOW AHB BUILDS COMMUNITY

Join a Micro School Community

In a city as big as Austin, Texas, it can be challenging to find a sense of community. AHB offers a micro school with a progressive program which attracts caring, open-minded families. Limiting the size to 90 students ensures everyone knows your name, and including parents in decisions and responsibilities creates a sense of belonging. With fun traditions and frequent social opportunities, AHB families enjoy community in a big city.

COMMUNITY AT AHB

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Guided by Values

Rooted in Curiosity

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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Have a Voice

Voting Members

Cara H.

Brent G.

Jessica P.

Dallas D.

Leah C.

Steve S.

Liz J.

Fabiana R.

Ms. Kelly

Ms. Kandyce

Non-Voting Members

Ms. Shari

Ms. Alexa

Lindsey P.

Join a Micro School Community